Sunday, September 28, 2014

I am very honored to announce that I have been selected to
the Design Team at Anything But A Card, where our current challenge is STEAMPUNKtember.I had a great
deal of fun creating this steam punk composition book.The challenge encouraged me to create some
really cool background paper and add elements to enhance the steam punk
feel.I picked up a vinyl cover to
go over the composition book so the three-dimensional elements would not get
destroyed with use.

Go check our ABAC current challenge Anything But A Card. We would love to have you play along and join the fun!

The background paper was stamped Tuxedo Black Ink alternating the images
to create a balanced sheet.A
stamp positioner is vital to get the images where you want them in the background.The images were first
stamped on an acrylic positioning plates with StazOn Black.Since I had so many images I wanted to
use I stamped each one in the corner of the plate so I had 8 images on two
plates.

Background paper masked & inked

Background paper stamped

The masks were placed over the stamped images and Weathered
Wood Ink was sponged around the masks.Tim Holtz has a great how to video on YouTube Here.

Die cut two sets of Mini gears and Gadget Gears, one in each
color.Die cut one set of
alternating colors of Tags in Traditional and Scalloped.Distress the Whitewash die cuts with
sandpaper and ink the Weathered Wood die cuts.

Place selected Remnant Rubs Elements on tags and rub to
adhere.Punch a hole and set the
flat head eyelets into tags.

Insert spinner into clock face with provided brad.

Back of Composition book

Assembly:

The composition book I used had a fairly slick cover that
requires a good adhesive.I went
with 3M Multi Surface Adhesive.I trimmed the prepared background papers to size and lined up with the
binding on the composition book.Tissue tape securely adhered the edge allowing me to flip the background
paper open and spray both the paper and the cover at the same time and know
that it would line up.To smooth
out any air bubbles I used a rubber brayer.

The pocket watches and compass are adhered to the back cover
with Mod Podge as are the first layer of gears in Whitewash on the front cover.

Detail on gears

Detail on clock face & tags

The three dimensional gears are adhered with varying heights
of dimensional foam squares.The
thinnest layer is two stacked glue dots to just barely raise the gear.The top layer of gears are first
lined up to match (they are not symmetrical) and then offset slightly to give a
shadowed effect.

Ink up the Burlap texture brayer with Kaleidacolor Tomato
Vine ink.Reverse the direction of
the inkpad to cover the entire area of the brayer.Stamp the cream card stock.Re-ink the brayer to complete the coverage of the paper if
desired.

Die cut leaves using two styles of Quickutz dies.Remove veins and spray with Walnut
ink.Set aside to dry.

Color vines of other leaves with a Fantastix and Jumbo
Java.

Use a brayer to ink cream card stock.(You get a more rustic look on smooth
card stock, versus a more blended look when the ink is brayered on glossy
cardstock.)Place pennant die over
section of ink and stamp sentiment in center.Die cut and emboss the pennant, then ink the edges with
Jumbo Java.

Cut card to 6 ¾ x 11 and fold in half for the card
base.Assemble the card according
to sketch.Layer some leaves with
different thicknesses of dimensional foam dots or squares.Trim the fibers to fit card size.Use glue dot to secure fibers.Layer sentiment with thickest
dimensional foam dots.

Hope you enjoyed the use of fun techniques to create a card with just cream card stock and inks!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Here is a project from the past that has been on display in
my parents’ home since 2008.They
celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2008, and this was a
gift I gave them at their celebration.I was dabbling in Digital Scrapbooking over at Jessica Sprague.

The layout is similar to one I learned to do in Digi in
Deep.I printed the layout in 12 x
12 format and then mounted it to a 12 x 12 canvas.The canvas had been prepped with gold paint around the
edges.

Side View

What I love about this layout is that it shows the endearing
love that my Mom and Dad have for each other.The smaller photo is taken at their wedding; the focal photo
was taken on the family trip to Lake Billy Chinook where we spent a week on a
houseboat. Such fond memories for
me!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

All three cards are stamped with PSX Chrysanthemum, and
wonderful fall flower that will bloom in many different shades.This inspired me to try a few different
techniques to match some of the season’s beauty.
All three cards started with cream colored card stock.

Craft Chalk

The image was stamped in Momento Black Tuxedo and colored
with several shades of crafting chalk.The card front is die cut with Spellbinders A2 Locking loops and the
edges chalked with green.The card
front is chalked around in the edges in the coordinating orange.The image is mounted with
dimensional foam tape onto the card front.

Imagine Craft Fireworks

The image was stamped with Colorbox Black and embossed with
fine clear embossing powder.Imagine Fireworks Dandelion, Tangelo, Bahama Blue, and Paris Dusk were
used to paint the image.Spray on
a plastic sheet and pick the color up with a fine-tipped paintbrush.The Dandelion is mixed with Bahama Blue
and Paris Dusk to achieve the right green for the leaves.The petals were painted with Dandelion
and then highlighted with Tangelo.A cotton swab can sponge up the excess color that may have gone outside
the coloring lines.Let the image
dry and spray with Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz.The image is die cut with Spellbinders Labels 11, with
a background die cut in the next size.The background was
spritzed with Dandelion and touch of Tangelo.The card base is folded, lined up just inside the die edge,
then die cut with the next larger die.The card front is mounted with dimensional foam tape to the base and
then adhered to the card front.

Jacquard Pearl-Ex

For this card the image was stamped and heat embossed like
the second card.This seems to
work best when working with watercolor techniques.A supply that has not been used for a while came out and
colored the image, Jacquard Pearl-Ex in Red Russet and Spring Green.Art Quest Gum Arabic is mixed with Pearl-Ex
as a fixative in 1 part Gum Arabic to 4 parts pigment. (I have several colors mixed that have
dried in a well plate from several years ago, they are still in excellent condition.)Add a
little water with the paintbrush and color the image.The cotton swab will also come in handy with this
technique.The image is die cut
with Grand Labels 23, as is the DCWV Bronze Metallic card stock background. The card front is mounted with
dimensional foam tape to the base and then adhered to the card front.

This is a fairly quick and easy card EXCEPT for placing the
tiny “dams” from the die.I would
suggest you leave the entire die cut in the die until you are ready to place
the tiny pieces of paper into their proper positions. The "wishing you a" is stamped by coloring on the Technique Tuesday stamp with the Zig Marker.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

This is a page I did about a trip to the zoo with my niece and nephew. Not so much of a sticker sneeze, all the die cuts are "grounded" including the monkeys from the vine. The Border Buddies and a couple of Zig pens make for nice zig zag borders.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Some of the new products to use on scrapbooking pages are fun textures like burlap and cork.

This was a quick and simple layout to complete using Paper Pizzaz wood grain patterned paper, brown DCWV card stock, burlap strip, and DCWV cork for the title. The font is Spellbinders Donna's Alpha. I inked the cork to distress it a bit. John and Peter enjoyed this day at our local feed store.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Still getting a handle on this blogging thing! Lost this post so here it is again.

I have been a crafter for most of my life . . . taught well by my mother! I still have the little reindeer made from an egg carton that I must have made as a 3 or 4 year old.

So needless to say I have about 4 decades worth of crafting, stamping, and scrapbooking products. I am on a journey to organize my mixed-media supplies, alterable items, stamp supplies, scrapbooking supplies, etc. I am fortunate enough to have a 12’ x 14’ room to call my own. Right now it is under a major clean out and purge.

But for now I wanted to share how I have my inks, alcohol inks, mists, glitter, flock, Stickles, Radiant Pearls, paper paints, metallic rub-ons, etc organized for easy selection.

There are a few types of media that it is best to apply to a separate card stock and then punch a shape to adhere to the color swatch sheet. Alcohol inks, glimmer sprays, Radiant Pearls, and metallic rub-ons are just a few.

The beads, mini mosaics, Diamond dust, flock, and glitter are all applied using Art Glitter Glue.

I started with basic categories along the left column, and discovered as I went through my inventory that I had many more items to add than the categories listed.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

I started with a ready-to-decorate frame, I believe from EK Success. The papers and stickers are Basic Grey Bittersweet, card stock from DCWV, Quickutz heart die-cuts and embossed with Quickutz as well, prima flowers and brads from my stash. With the exception of the photos, the entire frame including embellishments have been Mod Podged to be dust resistant. I just took this photo and the frame still looks great 5 years later. It has been displayed in my china cabinet, so no problem with fading. Thanks for taking a peek and leave a comment or two!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

I have been sorting to the room that is my craft
cave attempting to de-clutter, organize, and purge. A wonderful by
product of the process is revisiting projects that I completed in a much
earlier time. The title of the swap was "Snap Shot with a Twist"
on Memory Makers forum all the way back in October of 2007! This remains
one of my favorite ATC's I've made. One was sent in the swap, another I kept just because it is so fun!

I used two sizes of the oval Coluzzle (remember
those?), one of my all time favorite tools before wafer thin dies
proliferated. I created this
little gem with just a few Prima flowers, a brad, crafting thread, an eyelet,
and Narratives by Karen Russell Swatch Book Impress-Ons, Quotes and Designs. The origin of my idea was from Chinese lanterns,
and this was before Martha Stewart came out with her Party Crafting Template. Alternating ovals connect either on the
long side or the short side. I
used small bits of tape on the Coluzzle to avoid cutting through the card
stock. Maybe it is time to re-kindle the fun of making
little ATCs!Want to join me?

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The background stamp "Script Key Background" seemed perfect to make a patterned paper design for a magnetic memo board. It is perfect for a college dorm room, as the thoughts are positive affirmations for a college student. I choose colors that would blend well with any color decor.

Directions:Stamp 12” x 12” white cardstock with Script key background to make a
patterned paper.Heat emboss with
clear embossing powder.Apply a
thin layer of Mod Podge to the back of the paper and adhere to the metal
sheet.Use a rubber brayer
to smooth and remove air bubbles.Let dry.Die cut smaller
Decorative Blossom Corner from metallic cardstock.Apply Mod podge and adhere.Let dry.Apply
2-3 coats of Mod Podge toMemo
board allowing ample drying time between each coat.Stamp Script Key Background, Burnished Key, and Journey of
Love Key heart with StazOn ink on white shrink plastic.Let ink dry before handling.Trim Script Key Background and round corners.Die cut Burnished Key, this will need
to be shimmed to cut completely through.Pierce smaller keys to enlarge hole.Hand trim heart.Bake according to manufacturers directions.

Stamp Open Vintage Floret in StazOn ink on white cardstock (I did 4 of
the mini, 5 of the smaller, 3 of the small, 1 or 2 each of the next sizes
up.)Die cut flowers.Die cut one set of metallic Vintage
Floret flowers.Shape and assemble
flowers adding Liquid Pearls as flower centers.Die cut one set of Burnished Keys of metallic cardstock and emboss.Die cut a second set on the reverse
side to make mirror images.Apply
adhesive and adhere mirror images to make two-sided metallic keys.Adhere flowers, keys, and shrink plastic charms to magnets.Adhere Script Key charm to magnet clip.

Tie loop of organza ribbon through holes and make a
bow.String remaining smaller
metallic cardstock keys and shrink plastic key charms on metallic string and
thread through holes and arrange.

Representing

Joining the fun as

Double Page DT

About Me

Hectic as my life is . . . I have a desire to decompress by creating in my craft cave! Currently we have 34 residents on our mini-farm, which includes four humans. Our two active athletic boys keep us running to their various activities. I work for our business doing accounting and HR paperwork, as a substitute teacher in local High Schools, and now as a Community College Chemistry Instructor. Despite the busyness of life, my scrapping, altered art, and card making all provide a respite of creative energy and renewal.